Global Classmates
What is Global Classmates?
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Online Collaborative Learning with Peers Abroad
Kizuna Across Cultures (KAC) facilitates this class-to-class bilingual exchange program that pairs high school English classes in Japan with high school Japanese classes in the United States. From their classroom, students engage in guided interactions with their peers abroad. Through the six months of exchange, students deepen their understanding of each other and their own culture, enhance intercultural communicative competence and language skills in their target language, and develop lasting friendships. Thanks to contributions from our generous donors, KAC is able to offer Global Classmates free of charge to participating schools.
Where We Work
We value bringing diverse perspectives to the Global Classmates program and providing opportunities to those students who would normally not have international exposure. Shown above are the 683 high schools in the United States and Japan that have participated in Global Classmates so far. With the goal of making Global Classmates an inclusive program that provides opportunities to underrepresented and underprivileged communities, we strive to reflect the diversity of both countries through our school selection. We are proud to work with schools across the US and Japan and welcome applications from new schools as well as past participants!
KAC is proud to provide high-impact programming. Students’ reported learning outcomes indicate their enhanced motivation to study their target language, intercultural communicative competence and increased appreciation for and understanding of the partner country’s culture as well as their own culture.
Testimonials
Comments from Students
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Los Gatos High School (California)Quinn Mekler
Oftentimes Japanese culture is presented through the lens of ancient history, so having conversations with people my age about school, hobbies, and trends was a really refreshing and rewarding experience that broadened my understanding of Japan. I was also more motivated to learn new sentence structures and grammar to more accurately communicate my ideas with the other students.
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Yokosuka High School (Kanagawa)Chihiro Suzuki
Through Global Classmates, I was able to deepen my cross-cultural understanding. I learned about customs and events through my partner classmates’ posts, and I shared about Japanese culture using my experience as a member of the tea ceremony club…I realized that I had assumed I knew everything from just watching part of the news. By working to become more aware of things I take for granted and learning to explain things around me, my awareness as a member of the international community has increased.
Comments from Teachers
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Northern Valley Regional High School (New Jersey)Bill Paris Sensei
It was a great way for students to experience another culture outside of textbooks and worksheets, giving them an invaluable chance to meet and communicate with others from Japan in a more natural setting that they are used to. Students were able to gain a deeper appreciation and understanding of another culture, and broadened their view of the world.
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Himeji Shikisai High School (Hyogo)Mayumi Shinkawa Sensei
Through Global Classmates, students no longer felt hesitant to write in English and felt closer to American high school students who may speak a different language but have similar interests as them. This made the students want to get to know the partner classmates better and their motivation to study English increased.
Program Overview
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Following the program application and selection process, selected high schools in the U.S. and Japan are paired up with one another to engage in the 6-month program from September to February on a learning management system. Facilitated by teachers, students in language classes engage with each other using both Japanese and English, exchanging messages, presentations, photos, and videos on a variety of topics. They begin by getting to know each other as individuals through familiar topics, then deepen their understanding of each other’s backgrounds through cultural topics. Next, we encourage them to challenge themselves by discussing social issues. The regular interactions between students are asynchronous while a few synchronous interactions, such as video calls, can be incorporated during the program. After communicating via online messages, students are excited to have the opportunity to see their partner classmates and talk to them live. Through collaborative learning, they not only improve their language skills but also broaden their perspectives, developing the skills to understand and communicate effectively with those from different backgrounds.
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Partner schools can deepen the connection by meeting virtually through a video call.
Key Features of Global Classmates
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Integration into Class Curriculum
Global Classmates is designed to enhance and complement class curriculum. Global Classmates activities take approximately one hour per week and are intended to be completed during class time, with teachers helping students to write their posts and understand new grammar points or vocabulary that is introduced through their interactions. Our carefully selected conversation topics are designed to provide students with practical language practice that is thought-provoking and gives insight into the similarities and differences between the two countries. Due to the asynchronous nature of the exchange, there is no need to worry about the time difference between the US and Japan.
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Coordinator and Senpai Support
KAC assigns a Coordinator to each school pair to support smooth implementation of the exchange. The Coordinators, who are bilingual and knowledgeable about cross-cultural communication, assist teachers in all aspects of the program, from planning activities to facilitating communication between the teachers. In addition, a bilingual Senpai is also assigned to each school pair. As student interns who are trained by KAC, Senpai serve as a role model for the participating students and interact with them online to liven the exchange.
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Omiyage Gift Exchange
The students exchange physical gifts with their partner classmates during the program. The students are thrilled to hold the gift that their partner classmates have thoughtfully prepared and shipped across the ocean. They not only enjoy receiving the gift but they also enjoy seeing the reaction of their partner classmates opening the gift that they had picked out for them.
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Global Classmates Plus
Global Classmates Plus is an advanced version of the Global Classmates program that we have introduced in select schools. Plus aims to foster participants’ interest in global challenges, to encourage them to deepen their own thinking over complex issues and to engage in more advanced discussions. After getting to know each other through discussing familiar topics in the first half of the program, the Plus curriculum challenges participants to spend multiple lessons in the second half of the program examining a single social issue such as food problems or diversity & inclusion. Going beyond language and culture exchange, this program strengthens critical thinking skills and imbues students with a sense of global citizenship.
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Global Classmates Summit
The Global Classmates Summit is a prestigious youth leadership summer program organized by KAC. Students who actively participated in Global Classmates become eligible to apply for the Summit with nomination with their teachers.
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Global Classmates Community
Students and teachers can stay connected with Global Classmates even after the end of the program cycle! The Global Classmates Community provides resources and opportunities for students and young professionals to enrich their careers and personal lives. The community is open to anyone interested in intercultural opportunities and is completely free to join.
Read more and register here
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Run by donations
Global Classmates and all associated programming offered free of charge thanks to generous support from our sponsors. By removing financial barriers to participation, we are able to offer this programming to schools that would otherwise be unable to afford to offer their students the opportunity to experience international exchange. We greatly appreciate the commitment of our sponsors to supporting youth development.
Learn about our supporters
Other Resources
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FAQ
Check our Frequently Asked Questions page for more information about Global Classmates!
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Apply
We are looking for teachers who are passionate about providing international opportunities to their students. Applications open in February for schools in Japan and March for schools in the US. Check our application page to learn more about how to apply.
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Support us
Please consider supporting our efforts to provide exchange opportunities to students and schools in various environments through a donation or sponsorship. Help us unlock the potential for youth who will lead our future.
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